It is no coincidence that this daily emerged only after Franco's death and fast became the top circulation paper in the country, backing the then government of socialist Felipe Gonzalez. El Pais (The Country) continues to support the socialists and was one of the most vociferous critics of Spain's involvement in the 2003 Iraq war. Like its main Madrid rivals, El Pais is compact size and comfortably straddles the line between authoritative and entertaining. It has a number of regional and international editions.